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Francis de Sales Quotes
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Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.
Francis de Sales
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Make friends with the angels, who though invisible are always with you.... Often invoke them, constantly praise them, and make good use of their help and assistance in all your temporal and spiritual affairs.
Francis de Sales
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Those who love to be feared fear to be loved, and they themselves are more afraid than anyone, for whereas other men fear only them, they fear everyone.
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There are no galley-slaves in the royal vessel of divine love—every man works his oar voluntarily!
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The elephant, not only the largest but the most intelligent of animals, provides us with an excellent example. It is faithful and tenderly loving to the female of its choice, mating only every third year and then for no more than five days, and so secretly as never to be seen, until, on the sixth day, it appears and goes at once to wash its whole body in the river, unwilling to return to the herd until thus purified. Such good and modest habits are an example to husband and wife.
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You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working ; and just so you learn to love God and man by loving. All those who think to learn in any other way deceive themselves.
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It is not those who commit the least faults who are the most holy, but those who have the greatest courage, the greatest generosity, the greatest love, who make the boldest efforts to overcome themselves, and are not immediately apprehensive about tripping.
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The damned are in the abyss of Hell, as within a woeful city, where they suffer unspeakable torments, in all their senses and members, because as they have employed all their senses and their members in sinning, so shall they suffer in each of them the punishment due to sin.
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Lately I was near the beehives and some of the bees flew onto my face. I wanted to raise my hand, and brush them off. 'No,' said a peasant to me, 'do not be afraid, and do not touch them. They will not sting you at all, if you touch them they will bite you.' I trusted him; not one bit me. Trust me; do not fear these temptations. Do not touch them; they will not hurt you.
Francis de Sales
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It is the mark of a mean, vulgar and ignoble spirit to dwell on the thought of food before meal times or worse to dwell on it afterwards, to discuss it and wallow in the remembered pleasures of every mouthful. Those whose minds dwell before dinner on the spit, and after on the dishes, are fit only to be scullions.
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One great remedy against all manner of temptation, great or small, is to open the heart and lay bare its suggestion, likings, and dislikings before some spiritual adviser; for,... the first condition which the Evil One makes with a soul, when he wants to entrap it, is silence.
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Let the enemy rage at the gate; let him knock, pound, scream, howl; let him do his worst. We know for certain that he cannot enter our soul except by the door of our consent.
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Have Jesus always for your patron, His Cross for a mast on which you must spread your resolutions as a sail. Your anchor shall be a profound confidence in Him, and you shall sail prosperously.
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We may be excused for not always being bright, but we are not excused for not being gracious, yielding and considerate.
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How are you to meet the swarm of foolish attachments, triflings, and undesirable inclinations which beset you? By turning sharply away, and thoroughly renouncing such vanities, flying to the Saviour's Cross, and clasping His Crown of thorns to your heart, so that these little foxes may not spoil your vines. Beware of entering into any manner of treaty with the Enemy; do not delude yourself by listening to him while intending to reject him.
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He who can preserve gentleness amid pains, and peace amid worry multitude of affairs, is almost perfect.
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The state of marriage is one that requires more virtue and constancy than any other; it is a perpetual exercise in mortification.
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Though perseverance does not come from our power, yet it comes from within our power.
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Do not complain then of your poverty, my daughter, - we only complain of that which is unwelcome, and if poverty is unwelcome to you, you are no longer poor in spirit.
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When charity requires it we must freely and mildly communicate to our neighbor not only what is his instruction, but also what is profitable for his consolation.
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Big fires flare up in a wind, but little ones are blown out unless they are carried in under cover.
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To live according to the spirit is to love according to the spirit.
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Many would be willing to have afflictions provided that they not be inconvenienced by them.
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It has been well said, that heart speaks to heart, whereas language only speaks to the ears.
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Nothing appeases an enraged elephant so much as the sight of a little lamb.
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Quote of the day
The dearest friend on earth is a mere shadow compared to Jesus Christ.
Oswald Chambers
Francis de Sales
Born:
August 21, 1567
Died:
December 28, 1622
(aged 55)
Bio:
Francis de Sales OFM Cap. was a Bishop of Geneva and is honored as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church.
Known for:
Introduction to the Devout Life (1609)
Treatise on the Love of God
The art of loving God
Most used words:
love
,
heart
,
speaks
,
learn
,
dwell
,
fear
,
man
,
spirit
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